Leadership is quite a charged term that when we hear it, conjures up strong images for us. Each of us has received leadership, both good and bad during our lives. Maybe that is in a professional or personal context or we may have observed it in others.

It is quite easy for us to judge what we perceive a good leader is or what a bad leader is. We know when we are being led badly, it doesn’t feel good. And we know when we are being led well, somehow things are easier and flow better, right?

You may not think of yourself as a leader or as someone with leadership potential. Is that something you feel happier for others to do whilst you feel more comfortable following? Or is it the case that you don’t believe you have it in you to be a leader, you don’t think you were born with that gene? Don’t worry, you are not alone, so many people believe this about themselves.

The issue is how we define leadership.

I want to share a definition of leadership with you which I hope will challenge your perception of what it means, who can be a leader and what you need to do or be as a leader.

Here it is :

“A leader is somebody who takes responsibility for their world”

When you look at your own world, the world you can influence, the things you have control over in your life, your work, your relationships, you attitudes and your integrity, if you choose to take responsibility for that world, you are acting as a leader. This means that anybody can be a leader. As a parent, as a partner, as a friend, in your capacity at work, no matter how large or small your sphere of influence or control, you can take responsibility for it. And by doing so you are demonstrating leadership. We each have a difference size world to take responsibility for but we can all take responsibility for our own world.

And what does taking responsibility mean – it means doing something about those things that you can, responding when you need to and not shying away and leaving it to others.

So how does leadership sound to you now? Imagine what life would be like if everybody took responsibility for their own worlds. How different would life be?

So this week I want to ask you a couple of questions :

Where do you need to start being a leader in your life?

Where do you need to start taking responsibility in your world?

If you want some help answering these questions for yourself, working with a coach can provide the mechanism to do this. I would be delighted to explore these questions and more with you.

Share this entry

http://www.dieterhachenberg.com/wp-content/uploads/Leadership.jpg553866dieterhttp://www.dieterhachenberg.com/wp-content/uploads/dieter-hachenberg2.pngdieter2015-09-04 09:11:042015-09-04 09:11:04Leadership - who is it for?